'The Dark Knight Returns: Part 2' Arrives on Blu-ray in January

So it will be at least a few years before another live-action Batman shows up in his theatrical adventure, but that doesn't mean DC's preeminent vigilante is taking a break on the animated side of things. First off, he has yet to finish out the second half of The Dark Knight Returns, Warner Premiere's two-part animated adaptation of the peerless Frank Miller classic.

The second installment has been tentatively set for early 2013 since before The Dark Knight Returns: Part 1 arrived in September, but now Warner Premiere has announced that Batman: The Dark Knight Returns - Part 2 hits Blu-ray, DVD, and digital download on January 29, 2013. Not only that, but the cover art is also available to check out.

Part 1 followed an aged, even more grizzled Bruce Wayne as he emerged from retirement to face new enemies in even more dangerous Gotham City than the one he protected. Having triumphed over the gang army known as The Mutants in that first half, the older Batman must now face the Joker, thought cured over decades of psychiatric help but triggered into villainy by Batman's reappearance. Not only that, but a very Reagan-y president recruits a government stooge Superman to remove Batman on account of the vigilante upsetting the established order, setting up the old pals Batman and Superman for a climactic dust-up.

As with the first half, animation veteran Jay Oliva directs from a script by Bob Goodman. Erstwhile RoboCopand Buckaroo Banzai Peter Weller voices Bruce Wayne, with Modern Family's Ariel Winter as Carrie Kelly, the new Robin. David Selby voices Commissioner Gordon, with Michael Emerson as Joker and Mark Valley as Superman.

So January 29th. Check out the cover art and the only official image we've seen thus far: